Soundtracking The Movement: A Timeline Of Hip-Hop And The Black Experience

Have a seat and get schooled with some classic hip-hop songs that will open your mind to race, society and the black experience in America.

From its inception, hip-hop has always served as a narrative for the marginalized. Rappers from all over the country and time periods since the late seventies until now have inked pen to paper to detail the twisted anecdotes that are the realities of their surroundings. Sure, some can argue that amid these socially conscious tales, there is misogyny, violence and bad language.

But if you read between the lines, you’ll see it’s a lot deeper than just rap. Take Nas for example, who decoding his tales of growing up in Queensbridge on 1994’s Illmatic, showing the masses what a typical young black male’s experiences were like in that neighborhood. It gave America a magnifying glass—especially those of privilege—to see what life in the ‘hood is really like, and why its inhabitants do the things they do.

This is why the genre can serve as a lesson in sociology and race; as it chronicles the experiences of the black community, and other minorities living in the inner city, or simply just existing in the struggle. And with MCs like J.Cole and Kanye West, you’ll most likely get a history lesson as well—as they both target old and modern day slavery. (See: Born Sinner and Yeezus). Or perhaps you may get sound bites of issues like police corruption, like what N.W.A did seamlessly on Straight Outta Compton back in 1989 with “F**k The Police”—a song that sadly, is still relevant to this day. In honor of all the truth-tellers, VIBE has compiled a timeline of influential hip-hop jams that depict the black experience, race and society in America.

Because Black History Month is every month.

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Ice T “6 ‘N the Mornin” – Rhyme Pays (1986)

It’s always been known that the police and communities of color have had a tumultuous relationship; nowadays, the tensions have soared once again. And back in 1986, it wasn’t that different. With a light-hearted story and hip bumping beat to match, the California rapper is just running away from the police; while still making it a priority to have some fun.

Slick Rick is definitely here to teach our kids a lesson. In this heartfelt track he raps about two youngins' who developed a knack for getting their stuff by using a five finger discount. Essentially, the moral for this story is simple and one every youth living in a challenged neighborhoods should hear.

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Queen Latifah "Ladies First" – All Hail The Queen (1989)

At first glance, this album cover made you realize Queen Latifah was extremely proud of her black identity and African roots. On this track she does it for the ladies; taking a very feminist approach, she wants to let her male counterparts know that she, too, is a force to be reckoned with. It's safe to say she paved the way along with her other female colleagues like MC Lyte, for the new generation of female rapper.

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N.W.A "Fuck tha Police" – Straight Outta Compton (1989)

Ice Cube, Dr.Dre, Mc Ren and DJ Yella caused a stir with this anger-infused (but very real) track about their resentment towards the authorities. They spoke about the unfairness how of cops treated (and still do) men of color. Their disgruntled sentiments with the law are sadly still relatable to this day and age, considering how many young black men have been killed by the police. The song was so polarizing that it was banned from radio stations, public libraries and retail chains; the FBI and other governmental officials were also involved in taking this track down.

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The West Coast All Stars "We're All in the Same Gang" (1990)

A slew of West Coast heavyweights joined forces in efforts to combat the burgeoning gang epidemic that swarmed Los Angeles at the time. They made it a point to depict White America's reaction to the violence, and they weren't modest about this. This is how Dr.Dre and Mc Ren tell it: "Yo, bullets flying, mothers crying, brothers dying/Lying in the streets, that's why we're tryingTo stop it from falling apart and going to waste/And keeping a smile off of white face."

Over a catchy 90’s flow Kool G wonders why racism can’t be erased. The song almost feels like intruding into a musical style conversation about the topic. They all want the equality, because it’s making Kool G “more sore/I walk through a color blind corridor/Seekin, for peace in the people I'm meetin’/Black white and Puerto Rican men are greetin each other/Just like brothers, there's plenty and many of others/You can discover, kids fathers and mothers/A meltin pot, no one felt they got prejudice.” In a nutshell, this has to be one of the most positive songs ever made about racism. It feels like they're tired of pointing fingers and just want to make amends. The way it should be—everyone united.

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Tupac “Young Black Male” – 2capylyse Now (1991)

Through infectious rhymes with zig-zag lines that are far from coy like “The gimminy jimminy grows,” Tupac makes his entrance to the world describing what it’s like to be him, and those like him. He paints the picture of his life and gets at those who want to condemn him for telling the real life stories of young African-American men.

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Arrested Development 'Tennessee" – 3 Years 5 Months & 2 days In The Life Of... (1992)

In order to understand where you're going, you must always remember where you came from. On this funky Southern-style track, the members of Arrested Development make that lesson a part of their agenda. Midway through the song, you'll get a meaningful speech telling us why our history matters: "Now I see the importance of history/Why my people be in the mess that they be/Many journeys to freedom made in vain/By brothers on the corner playing ghetto games/I ask you Lord why you enlightened me Without the enlightenment of all my folks/He said cause I set myself on a quest for truth/And he was there to quench my thirst/But I am still thirsty" And if you read between the lines, there is a deeper message here about the choices those make in impoverished communities, or perhaps why they do in the first place.

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Rakim "Teach The Children" – Don't Sweat the Technique (1992)

Like a social anthropologist, Rakim dissects the inner city, and picks at all the issues that engulf some of its most vulnerable constituents. He talks about the crack epidemic that presided the '80s, or the governments’ lack of funds for these in poor neighborhoods; while doing a great job at challenging the president at the time for his decision on the Gulf War.

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A Tribe Called Quest “Sucka Ni**a” – Midnight Marauders (1993)

Amid seismic electrical sounding waves sprinkled with jazzy beats, Q-Tip reflects on the use of the “N” word. He takes you on a trip of the different connotations and time periods that influence what the word means, and how it’s perceived by who is saying it. It’s an interesting argument that still exists today. Is it a term of endearment or simply holding us all back?

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Gang Starr “Code of The Street” – Hard to Earn (1994)

Over hard gritty beats, Gang Starr gives us a crash course on the politics of street life. He decodes the dichotomy of doing the right thing, but still wanting to be accepted by your peers around the way. He questions those who give criminals a disapproving finger wag, and flips it on them by challenging their corruption with “straight laced” governmental policies: “They might say we're amenace to society/But at the same time I say "Why is it me?"/Am I the target, for destruction?/What about the system, and total corruption?”

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GZA “Cold World” – Liquid Swords (1995)

GZA paints a raw picture here of what really happens in impoverished inner city neighborhoods. Often times, these communities are overlooked in the grand scheme of things. He presents a series of unfortunate events that for many, are an everyday thing. With the first hook of the song he pulls you right in: “Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked/Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down/In this cold, cold world”

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Jay Z “Politics As Usual” – Reasonable Doubt (1996)

On Jay Z’s debut record, he made it a point to explain his old hustling ways. He explains that for most, this isn’t a living that perhaps one might see as keen one; it just so happens that your situation may bring you to make that choice. It’s the harsh reality of the growing up in the slums, and feeling like you don’t have much of a choice. Yes, it’s frowned upon, but it haunts communities of color daily from consumption to distribution. All in hopes of leaving behind the struggle.

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Erykah Badu “Drama” – Baduizm (1997)

With silky, syrupy vocals and a somber beginning slowly ascending into a faster more upbeat percussive beat to match, Ms.Badu ponders how we can go on with all the malice in the world. She examines the racial tension, lie-telling politicians; all intertwined with the notion of finding solace in spirituality through God—all of which seamlessly inundate the present world. Her bluntness in expressing the wrongs, makes for an authentic assessment of the issues that still linger on today: “Race relations, segregation, no occupation/ World inflation, demonstration, miseducation/ No celebration to celebrate your lives”

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Mos Def "Mr.Nigga" – Black on Both Sides (1998)

On this eye-opening track into the systematic daily struggles black men face, Mos Def opens up some of the microagressions that take place in everyday life. His epic story telling skills are showcased here as he describes a particular incident of what it means to travel while black:"They actions reveal how their hearts really feel/Like, late night I'm on a first class flight/The only brother in sight, the flight attendant catch fright/I sit down in my seat, 2C/She approach officially, talking about, 'Excuse me'/Her lips curl up into a tight space/Cause she don't believe that I'm in the right place/Showed her my boarding pass, and then she sort of gasped/All embarrassed, put an extra lime on my water glass"

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Tupac “Changes” – Greatest Hits (1998)

Here, Tupac is sick and tired of the racism. It baffles him that nothing has changed. He questions what needs to happen for things to make a shift for the better. Nonetheless he still makes it a point to state at the end of the day, we all are equal. Because let’s get real, here, both “Black and White are smoking crack tonight.”

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Lauryn Hill “Doo Woop” – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Lauryn shook up 1998 with her love-infused, socially conscious debut album. On it, this gem and anthem for social awareness was born. Ms. Hill took us all to school with this track, chanting a song dedicated to all the girls that would rather get caught up in the limelight of false and fake beauty standards than books. She tells them to have self-respect, and don't sell their souls to the devil—for a guy's attention. Instead, become someone; don't just go under another for the sake of promiscuity and cultural acceptance. And fellas, she is also calling you out as well. Not everything is about material things, sex or money.

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Kanye-West "We Don't Care" – The College Dropout (2004)

With Kanye’s debut album, College Dropout, he dominated 2004 giving the world a different sound, aesthetic and perspective. On “We Don’t Care,” ‘Ye creates an ode to chasing that paper by any means necessary through selling illegal substances. He details the struggle of trying to escape a 9-to-5 or minimum wage job. Whether or not it’s right, people still need to get by. But in addition to the illicit trade he also mentions other familiar schemes that encapsulate what people in the hood do to get by: “We put shit on layaway, then come back/We claim other people kids on our income tax/We take that money, cop work, then push packs to get paid/And we don't care what people say.” They may not always be ethical or straight-laced, but they exist, right?

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Nas “America” – Untitled (2008)

The same man who described his surroundings in Queensbridge back in 1994 on Illmatic, came back 14 years later to gives us a wake up call and a reminder of what surrounds the whole country. If “America” were on a college syllabus, it’s description would be the “Real Truth of the Dichotomy of Race Relations In The U.S.” Because, really, “The hypocrisy is all I can see/White cop acquitted for murder black cop cop a plea/That type of shit make me stop and think/We in chronic need of a second look of the law books” Just think of Eric Garner and Officer Daniel Pantaleo, among many others.

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Jay Z and Kanye West “Made in America” – Watch The Throne (2011)

The black community and many other minority groups have long faced adversity because of their race. Still, it’s important to be reminded that above the struggle, there can be triumph. Infused with Frank Ocean's soft vocals, Jay Z and Kanye West tell us their own personal stories of success despite the odds. Jay Z reminisces on his grandmother’s homemade desserts, and Kanye let’s the haters know: “Now all my niggas designing and we all swaggin’/Ignore the critics just to say we did it/This ain’t no fashion show mothafucka, we live it.”

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J Cole “Runway” – Born Sinner (2013)

Jermaine Cole is skilled at crafting a solid narrative. It’s all in his life experiences, his perception of being a black man in this country; all coupled with his signature social commentary on how he sees the world through his lens. Here, he does all three and gives us a history lesson as well: “Basis, my manager back in the days was racist/I was a young boy, passing skates and tucking laces/Old perverted white man who told me: "Jermaine It's all pink on the inside, fuck what color their face is"/Wise words from an indecent man/Made me reflect on the times when we was three-fifths of them.” Hence, he is referring to personal anecdotes and slavery where you weren’t counted as a complete person.

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Kanye West "New Slaves" – Yeezus (2013)

Never one to bite his tongue for anyone, Ye' gets right into it on the first verse of this electrifying and candid track. "My momma was raised in the era when Clean water was only served to the fairer skin/Doin' clothes you would have thought I had help/But they wasn't satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself." In addition to the racial undertones, Kanye is describing here the addiction folks of color have with conspicuous consumption. It's a disease we suffer from, which makes the poor poorer, and the rich, richer.

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John Legend and Common “Glory” (2015)

John Legend and Common both combined their mighty pens for this poignant track based on the Civil Rights movement, and the state America is in today. The song, is off the soundtrack for Ava DuVernay’s Selma and because of its brilliance, it won an Academy Award and Golden Globe. In just a mere few lines, Common depicts the parallels between the courageous actions of Rosa Parks; paired with the protests that swarmed the city of Ferguson due to Michael Brown’s killing.

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Kendrick Lamar “The Blacker The Berry” – To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)

Over a brash set of beats, Kendrick explores the harsh truth of what it’s like to be a black man in this country. And he doesn’t sugar coat anything. You get the sense he’s calling everyone out. Among all the issues, he sticks a fine-tuned ice pick to the community’s main issues. Like the black prison industrial complex: “I mean, it's evident that I'm irrelevant to society/That's what you're telling me, penitentiary would only hire me.” To merely just being unapologetic for his blackness: “I'm African-American, I'm African/I'm black as the heart of a fuckin' Aryan/I'm black as the name of Tyrone and Darius”